803 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 19,882 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 4.6% of these were positive.
Over the last week, there have been multiple reports of shoppers in Tesco being double, or even triple charged for their shopping, as the supermarket chain experiences payment issues throughout the UK. Although not every store is affected, many customers are still waiting for their money to be refunded.
The Advanced Research & Invention Agency (ARIA) will be led by scientists who will have the freedom to identify and fund transformational science and technology at speed. UK government will launch the Advanced Research & Invention Agency (ARIA), a new independent research body to fund high-risk, high-reward scientific research.
Social media platforms and celebrities team up with government and NHS to launch new graphics to show support for vaccine roll-out. Range of frames and GIFs with designs featuring the NHS, the Premier League, the Beano and Charlie Mackesy.
Cross-Government Apprenticeship Buddy Scheme - Information pack for candidates and buddies. Introduction to the Buddy Scheme Our ODP Cross-Government Buddy Scheme is here to help increase Apprenticeship support for those undertaking the ODAS Apprenticeship.
From the Office for National Statistics published 19 February 2021. In England, the percentage of people testing positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) decreased in the week ending 12 February 2021; we estimate that 481,300 people within the community population in England had COVID-19 (95% credible interval: 451,600 to 512,400), equating to around 1 in 115 people.
The Prime Minister will call on world leaders to back efforts to speed up the development of new vaccines, treatments and tests at a G7 meeting. Slashing the time to develop vaccines for new diseases to 100 days will save countless lives in future health crises.
The NHS Highland vaccination programme is progressing well with 87,698 been given their first vaccination as of 15 February - 33% of the over 18 population of the Highlands, Argyll and Bute. We completed first dose vaccination in care homes ahead of schedule and it is planned to have all care homes offered their second vaccination by the end of March.
Published today by the Office for National Statistics. 23.0% of disabled people aged 21 to 64 years in the UK had a degree as their highest qualification compared with 39.7% of non-disabled people; 15.1% of disabled people had no qualifications compared with 5.4% of non-disabled people (year ending June 2020).
Public sector net borrowing (excluding public sector banks, PSNB ex) is estimated to have been £8.8 billion in January 2021, £18.4 billion more than in January 2020, which is both the highest January borrowing since monthly records began in 1993 and the first January deficit for 10 years. Central government tax receipts are estimated to have been £63.2 billion in January 2021 (on a national accounts basis), £0.8 billion lower than in January 2020, with notable falls in taxes on production such as Value Added Tax (VAT) and Business Rates.
Several hundred Scottish tourism businesses will have the chance to connect and do business with tour operators and travel agents from around the globe. Scotland Reconnect 2021, our digital trade workshop event, opens for registration on 8 March.
Published by the Office for National Statistics 18 February 2021. According to the indicator derived from the Bank of England's Clearing House Automated Payment System (CHAPS) data, aggregate debit and credit card purchases decreased by 3 percentage points from the previous week to 72% of their February 2020 average.
In January 2021, retail sales volumes decreased by 8.2% when compared with December 2020 as tighter nationwide coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions affected sales. Retail sales volumes were 5.5% lower than before the pandemic in February 2020 indicating that the impact of restrictions on the retail sector was not as large as that seen in April 2020 during the first full month of retail restrictions when sales fell by 22.2% when compared with levels before the pandemic.
From the Office for National Statistics published today 19 February 2021. This week, over the period 10 to 14 February 2021, based on adults in Great Britain: Compliance with most measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) remained high, with similar proportions to last week reporting always or often handwashing after returning home (89% this week compared with 90% last week), using a face covering (96% this week compared with 95% last week) and avoiding physical contact when outside their home (93% both this week and last week).
How the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic impacted on redundancies using the UK labour market statistics for the period September to November 2020. The increase in UK redundancy rates during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is faster than during the 2008 to 2009 economic downturn.
From Thursday 18 February, anyone who is identified as a close contact of somebody who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) will be asked to get tested. The measure is designed to find asymptomatic cases that would otherwise go undetected, as close contacts are at higher risk than the wider population, given their exposure to somebody with COVID-19.
Almost two million workers were unemployed or fully furloughed in January - and had been for at least six months - highlighting the scale of lasting damage to the UK's labour force that will need to be addressed in the Budget, according to major new research published on 17 February 2021 by the Resolution Foundation. Long Covid in the labour market – supported by the Health Foundation – examines the state of the labour market during the current lockdown, the cumulative impact of the longer than expected crisis so far, and workers' prospects for the months ahead as the economy starts to recover.
A package of measures worth £37.2 million has been announced to tackle poverty and inequality, in this financial year. The funding, confirmed in a Statement to Parliament by the Finance Secretary this week, will support the delivery of two key investments for 2020-2021: a further £100 COVID Hardship Payment for qualifying low income families whose children receive free meals in schools and early learning and childcare settings additional funding of £20 million for councils to tackle financial insecurity at a local level, making almost £47 million available for this priority Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government Aileen Campbell said: "We know the financial burden the pandemic is placing on people across Scotland and this additional investment will help to make a real difference.
Unprecedented Government support has helped firms to increase their cash holdings during the current crisis, but further support will be needed in the Budget to ensure they can drive Britain's recovery, according to new Resolution Foundation research. On firm ground? - the first of four Recovery Plan papers to be published by the Foundation over the next two weeks – examines the position of firms during the Covid-19 crisis, and their prospects for powering the recovery.
Over 750,000 families are currently in arrears with their housing payments, and over half (450,000) of these families are likely to have fallen behind as a direct result of the Covid-19 crisis, according to new Resolution Foundation research published this week. Getting ahead on falling behind - supported by the Health Foundation – examines the impact of the crisis on how families have managed their housing costs over the past ten months.
